SUNDAY SCHOOL EXTENSION MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 182, 28 April 1919, Page 4

SUNDAY SCHOOL EXTENSION MOVEMENT

Asisweliknowiij hoys lind girls of our primary schools receive' j;o tegular religious teaching in their school hours: this has to he supplied by. their,, p/arents qi- -a Sun-dny-sch'ool." It places'Wli'ere "fliefe are a fair■ JiumheiV-ofipeople..there, is almost certain to be someone who is prepared to carry on-a Sunday-scjwol, but" where the. number, of- settlors' k few .religious training is left entirely, .to'tiie'parents. Riicogmsingf the great'i'laims of the children of our pioneers, the Sunday School Union some time ago, initiated a, scheme to send an organiser ir.tn' the out-dis-tvicts to nl'i-nngi) with- local sympathisers to opeii schools, Forluiiiilely, Mr.' W. E. HoWe, who is specially qualified by training,' temperament and euthusinfim for the worlti was willing to 'undertake the task, and ho made a .commencement in February. At. the Easter Convention of the imjon Hr. Hove explained the progress made in the short time . (eight weeks) he had been at work. He had actually visited 19 places, isnd nnd been in touch with seven others. In addition to 25!) miles travelled by train he had walked, cycled, or been conveyed by friends in car or tmggy 377 .miles. Tho' homes visited numbered 121, and 2GO children were spoken t0,.0n the. wayside. Six. .schools .had been started and were now 'working. Free distribution 'wa.s made of ,1321 books, pictures and cards. His services had been fi-eelv used by the churches for services nnd lielp in other ways, and, he. was instrumental in reviving the interest in v'orship.oi some who had been,neglecting it. Family worship had been'conducted and the sick visited. All the people without exception were eager-for schools to be started in their neighbourhood. Some teachers and scholars will-have to travel three and four miles to attend, and as the roads will be uiifit' in \winler it has been arranged to hold'branch schools; Some of the children had never attended a ser-' vice, and did not know that there were such things as Sunday-Schools. Cases were met with where boys 12 to U hail not heard the niuiio of Jesus. Under present conditions,- Mr.' Howe only stays a- week- plnce,' : but.'to start the work properly it longer stay is very desirable in order to give the teachers, who in most-cases-are new to the work, , instructions; in" the best methods and to help them with difficulties that crop up as they go-along;- It is hoped that Die organiser vill be.able to revisit schoolii a few months after elat-ting them, ns the.first few months are the critical ones: Tho experiences of the organiser were pleasant, and tho conditions met with clearly indicated tho urgent need of semic such service. The union's district is a .large one, extending from Marlon .ami Daiinevirke in the north to Nelson mid. iMarlliorough in.the south. In niany districts an old Sun--dav teacher from the larger to.wns will take up the .vork, ami their services will. be. available to train, the ones who lire entirely new to teaching. A feature of Mr. .Howe's work will bo the visiting of small ::ihcols already established and the encouragement and instruction of those who an: carrying on the work often under trying conditions. The union,is .quite satisfied thnt in. Hi , : Howe they' have secured an excellent organiser, and one who is well flble to grip-'the. attention, of. any.-buy or. girl with whom he comes in contact. It is intended to continue f-n until bad weather prevents'further'travel. It is hoped 'that'sympathisers vill provide sufficient funds to enable the work 16 commence early next summer and to continue well 'into 1920.. ,